Govt-UDMF talks fails to make any headway

The much-touted talks between the government and the leaders of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) have ended fruitlessly late in the Tuesday evening.

After spending around six hours in the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar, the Madhesi interlocuters emerged out with empty hands.

"In fact, we could not hold official dialogue. There was no one to talk to. The Home Minister was the only one flitting in and out of the room where we waited," Mahendra Yadav, a member of the UDMF talks team, told Nepal FM.

Yadav accused that the government was not serious about the dialogue. He, however, added that the UDMF will again sit for talks. "If the government becomes serious, we are ready to hold dialogue again," he said.

The talks between government and the UDMF were said to have started since 3 pm on Tuesday at Baluwatar. They were said to be heading towards positive direction. Some reports had even suggested that the leaders were preparing to sign a deal to end the protracted disputes.

Top UDMF leaders Mahanta Thakur, Rajendra Mahato and Upendra Yadav along with their talks team members Hridayesh Tripathi and Anil Jha had reached Baluwatar at 3 pm to hold talks with the government which was said to have been represented by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Situala, among others. nepalnews.com sd Feb 26 08

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